Indicating device for drains and the like.



v for Drains and the like,

' traps of the drain,

. after rising in the there is an UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HENRY WOODINGTON AND ERNEST HENRY GOLES. 0F CLEVEDON, ENGLAND;

INDIGATING DEVICE FOR BRAINS AND THE LIKE.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

Application filed November 7, 1913. Serial No. 799,785.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, J OSEPH HENRY WOOD- INGTON and ERNEST HENRY Corns, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residents of Clevedon, county of Somerset, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicating Devices of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for indicating sewage accumulation and stoppages in drains and the like, and is primarily intended for use in ascertaining whether the intercepting traps in a drainage system are free. It will however, be apparent that an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is applicable to other like usages.

It is a known fact that the existence of a block at the intercepting trap does not necessarily become evident in a short space of time: indeed it may not become evident at all. The existence of a block anywhere in a drain is first shown, unless the trap is specially exposed to view, by the drain not acting properly, as indicated by the sewage or the like remaining ponded, more or less, at the surface of one or other of the visible instead of freely passing away. Now, .as the intercepting trap is usually the lowest-point of a house drain, it follows that, before the existence of a block or stoppage becomes apparent in this way, sewage or the like must accumulate in the whole length of the drain between said trap and the next lowest trap on the surface. That is to say, until the sewage or the like appears and remains visible at the surface, it is not evident from the ordinary use of the drain that, such drain is obstructed or that accumulation of sewage in said drain. Further, it is also an established fact that not infrequently there is formed a block at the intercepting trap, and that the pressure of the accumulated sewage or the like, drain and the inspection hole or chamber to a certain level, forces the obstruction before it and before it becomes evident from the use of the drain that the same has become obstructed. Therefore, a given intercepting trap may be repeatedly blocked and the block repeatedly overcome by the pressure caused by the accumulation, and the existence of such a condition remain altogether unsuspected. It follows, there "fore, that many undesirable results may the transparent cover a,

drain by the performance of arise from this unsuspected accumulation ofespec1ally in household drainage-21, de-

composing mass of paper debris, excretal matter, solids and general sludge, but with an apparatus in accordance with the present invention a timely indication of the presence of an accumulation is obtained and the danger therefrom obviated.

For a clear understanding of the present mvention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing which illustrates in sectional elevation (Figure 1) a practical mode of carrying out said invention; and Fig. 2 shows a plan \lGW (simply of the top)cover removed, the device shown being particularly adapted for interposition in a drainage system on the main sewer side of an intercepting trap.

In said drawings, a is a vertically arranged casing formed integral with or attached to a transverse channel or pipe 1) provided with spigot and socket or other suitably-shaped'ends Z) shown horizontally disposed, which is arranged in axial continuation of the drain pipe, and thus may be inclined or curved according as the drain pipe is arranged. A contact needle or indicator is pivoted by its spindle d and has one arm 0 extending through an opening into the chan nel 01' pipe 6 and in the path of the sewage, sludge or other fluid, while the other arm 9 projects upwardly within said casing. The top of the casing a is provided with an hermetically sealed transparent cover a and a closure lid a preferably detachably arranged on the casing a on the ground level, indicated by dot and dash line.

In operation, and in the simplest manner, when it is desired to ascertain the condition 'of the intercepting trap, drain orthe like,

a flush is made either by means of existing flushing apparatus or by otherwise passing. a flow of water through the drain. If a free and clear passage is presented the passing water will oscillate the needle or indicator and its movement will be apparent through the closure lid 0 having been removed. If, on the other hand, an impediment is encountered, the water will percolate in small quantities or flow very slowly, failin to move the indicating arm to any appreciable extent or degree, so that one may readily judge the state of the the indicating arm.

In the preferable form shown, means are jects upwardly within the casing and in line with a downwardly extendlng contact tongue it pivotally mounted on a transverse spindle dropped into one or other of the oppositely arranged notches jformed in the 'internal flange is at the top of the casing a.

This spindle z' is carried by the forked arms -m of a binding post rod n which passes through a slot or hole 0 formed in the internal flange it; and in the wall of the casing, said hole 0 being of such a size that after the transverse spindle i of the forked arm m, and consequently the pivotally mounted tongue it carried by said spindle 2', has been positioned in its correct notches 3', said hole 0 is filled up with a suitable sealing medium, the arrangement of notches j allowing for a greater or less swing of the needle or indicator 0 before its upper end 9 comes into contact with the pivotally mounted tongue IL, which contact closes an electric circuit, ringing a bell or giving other audible or external ocular indication or record of the state of the drain flow, one of the wires 32 of the circuit being connected to the end of the rod n, while the other wire 9 is connected to one of the beforementioned linings 6. Any other suitable form of electrical or mechanical contact and indicating or recording means may be employed according to the uses or conditions which may obtain under difi'erent or varying circumstances.

It is obvious that if the drain be deeply situated the casing a would have to be of an elongated nature and the needle or indicating arm correspondingly lengthened. Further, the various constructional features may be substantially modified without departing from the invention; for instance,'

the casing a may be of oval, rectangular, circular or other cross-section, the arm 0 formed with a spade-shaped extremity or any other shape easily acted upon by the sewage or like flow and the spigot and socket or other ends and general shape of the molding varied to suit practical and local requirements.

Ha' 'ing now described our invention, what we claim as new and desir; to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An indicating device for drains and the like comprising, in combination with a pipe section having a casing member, an adjustable binding post element extending within the casing member, and having forked arms and a spindle, a swinging contact tongue pivotally' suspended from the central portion of said spindle, a contact needle pivotally hung within the casing member and having one end disposed in the passage way through the pipe section and the other end arranged to engage and disengage said swinging contact tongue, and electrical connections respectively with said 'binding post element and with said needle.

2. An indicating device for drains and the like comprising, in combination with a pipe section having a casing member provided with a plurality of supporting notches, adetachable late arranged to cover said notches, an ad ustab1e binding post element carrying a spindle retained in any of said notches, a contact tongue pivotally hung from said spindle, a contact needle pivotally hung within the casin member and having one end disposed in t e passage wayv through the pipe section and the other end arranged to engage and disengage said contact tongue, and electrical connections respectively with said binding post element and with said needle.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

Rom. HUNTER, EDWIN 0. Ann. 

